nd-crops NEWS RELEASE Prospective Plantings March 31, 2005 2005 PLANTING INTENTIONS North Dakota North Dakota producers intend to plant an estimated 6.90 million acres of other spring wheat in 2005, up from 6.20 million acres planted in 2004, according to the USDA's North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. The previous high was 7.10 million acres planted in 2001. These estimates are based on a survey of growers' intentions the first two weeks of March. Area planted to durum wheat is expected to total 1.85 million acres, up from 1.75 million acres last year. Winter wheat seeded last fall totaled 260,000 acres, up from 245,000 acres planted a year earlier, and the largest planted acreage since the 1986 crop of 520,000 acres. Oat intentions are 530,000 acres, up from 490,000 acres last year. Barley producers intend to plant an estimated 1.20 million acres, down from 1.60 million acres last year. If realized, this would be the lowest planted acreage since records began in 1926. All corn planting intentions are estimated at 1.50 million acres, down from 1.80 million acres in 2004, which was a record high. Soybean growers intend to plant an estimated 3.25 million acres, down from 3.75 million acres in 2004. Flaxseed planting intentions are estimated at 850,000 acres. If realized, this will be a 73 percent increase from last year’s 490,000 acres. This is the first year since 1999 that flax intentions were asked. Dry edible bean acreage intentions are estimated at 720,000 acres, up from 560,000 acres planted in 2004. If realized, this would be the highest planted acreage since the 2002 crop of 790,000 acres. Canola planting intentions are 950,000 acres, up from 780,000 acres last year. Oil sunflower planting intentions are 1.00 million acres, up from 720,000 acres in 2004. Non-oil sunflower planting intentions are 260,000 acres, up from 160,000 acres planted last year, and the highest since 2000 when 320,000 acres were planted. Sugarbeet growers expect to plant an estimated 259,000 acres, up from 256,000 acres last year. Farmers and ranchers intend to harvest 2.80 million acres of all hay. This is up from last year's 2.73 million acres harvested. United States The 2005 other spring wheat planted acreage is estimated at 14.4 million, up 4 percent from last year. Of the total, about 13.7 million acres are hard red spring wheat. Area planted to durum wheat is intended to total 2.61 million acres, up 2 percent from the previous year. Winter wheat planted area for the 2005 crop is 41.6 million acres, down 4 percent from 2004. Of the total, about 30.5 million acres are hard red winter, 6.6 million acres are soft red winter, and 4.5 million acres are white winter. Oat acres seeded and to be seeded for the 2005 crop year are expected to total 4.27 million acres, up 4 percent from last year's planted area. Barley growers intend to plant 3.97 million acres for 2005, down 12 percent from last year, if realized. Growers intend to plant 81.4 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2005, up 1 percent from 2004 and 4 percent above 2003. If realized, this would be largest corn acreage since 1985 when 83.4 million acres were planted for all purposes. Soybean growers intend to plant an estimated 73.9 million acres in 2005, down 2 percent from the record acreage planted in 2004. Flaxseed producers expect to plant 919,000 acres in 2005, up 76 percent from last year. If realized, this would be the largest planted area since 1979 when 922,000 acres were planted. Prospective 2005 planting of dry beans in the U.S. totals 1.66 million acres, up 23 percent from last year and 18 percent above 2 years ago. Canola producers intend to plant 1.05 million acres in 2005, up 21 percent from 2004, the first increase in canola acreage since 2000. Sunflower growers expect to plant a total of 2.75 million acres in 2005, up 47 percent from last year and the first acreage increase since 1998. Area intended for oil type varieties, at 2.19 million acres, is up 43 percent from 2004, and the non-oil varieties, estimated at 565,000 acres, are up 66 percent from last year. Area planted to sugarbeets for the 2005 crop year is expected to total 1.30 million acres, 3 percent below the 2004 planted acreage. Prospective Plantings, March 1, 2005 North Dakota Area Planted Crop 2005 Indicated as % 2003 2004 2005 2004 - - - 1,000 Acres - - - Pct Barley 2,050 1,600 1,200 75 Corn, All 1,450 1,800 1,500 83 Hay, All 1/ 2,950 2,730 2,800 103 Oats 620 490 530 108 Wheat, All 8,630 8,195 9,010 110 Winter 130 245 260 106 Durum 2,000 1,750 1,850 106 Other Spring 6,500 6,200 6,900 111 Canola 970 780 950 122 Flaxseed 560 490 850 173 Soybeans 3,150 3,750 3,250 87 Sunflower, All 1,210 880 1,260 143 Oil 1,060 720 1,000 139 Non-Oil 150 160 260 163 Sugarbeets 259.0 256.0 259.0 101 Dry Edible Beans 540.0 560.0 720.0 129 1/ Acreage for harvest. Prospective Plantings, March 1, 2005 United States Area Planted Crop 2005 Indicated as % 2003 2004 2005 2004 - - -1,000 Acres - - - Pct Barley 5,348 4,527 3,974 88 Corn, All 78,603 80,930 81,413 101 Hay, All 1/ 63,383 61,916 62,940 102 Oats 4,597 4,085 4,267 104 Wheat, All 62,141 59,674 58,592 98 Winter 45,384 43,350 41,613 96 Durum 2,915 2,561 2,608 102 Other Spring 13,842 13,763 14,371 104 Canola 1,082 865 1,047 121 Flaxseed 595 523 919 176 Soybeans 73,404 75,208 73,910 98 Sunflower, All 2,344 1,873 2,750 147 Oil 1,998 1,533 2,185 143 Non-Oil 346 340 565 166 Sugarbeets 1,365.4 1,346.0 1,299.0 97 Dry Edible Beans 1,406.1 1,354.3 1,663.5 123 1/ Acreage for harvest. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: David Knopf, Director North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service NDSU, IACC Bldg., Room 448 P.O. Box 3166 Fargo, ND 58108-3166 Telephone: (701) 239-5306 E-Mail: nass-nd@nass.usda.gov Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/